Going all the way back to at least the debut of Austin City Limits in 1976, the state capitol of Texas has been a ground zero for fun and interesting cultural events. The city is nationally famous for its many annual music festivals, from the jazz, blues, bluegrass and Texas twang of the Old Settler’s Music Festival to the …

CertStudent is a regular feature that profiles students of all ages who are pursuing certification at schools, in training programs, and on their own time (and own dime). Know an interesting CertStudent ? Share the details with us at editor (at) certmag (dot) com.

This feature first appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of Certification Magazine.

One of the most challenging networking credentials in the IT certification world is the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) offered by Cisco. Now imagine combining that clout with a specialization in security. For many networking professionals, a CCIE Security stamp of approval is at …

Windows 8 has been with us for a couple of years now and its reception in the marketplace has been tepid at best. A lot of users found the interface changes in Windows 8 to be unpalatable. In fact, many users elected to keep the familiar environment provided by Windows 7 on their desktops, and …

We don’t all learn the same way, especially when it comes to certification. Some people are most at home sitting in a classroom and taking notes from an instructor. For others, a book and a set of do-it-yourself lab exercises may offer the best solution. For many, training videos are an essential tool. If you’re …

This feature first appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of Certification Magazine.

After applying for a full-time customer support position with a wireless internet service provider in Worcester, Mass., recent high school graduate Steven Rich (Tantasqua Regional High School, class of 2014) landed in the same hiring pool as a handful of candidates with college …

It doesn’t seem to happen all that much anymore, but once upon a time celebrations of this or that businesses’ milestone millionth customer occupied a somewhat iconic place in pop culture. Maybe we’re just not as impressed by the number 1,000,000 anymore. Besides which, hey, it’s a tough economy. When Banco Walmart opened its millionth account (after …

This feature first appeared in the Summer 2014 issue of Certification Magazine.

People often talk about how quickly things change. Look back even just a few years, and you’ll see how different things were then than they are now. Ask anyone under the age of 15 to make the sound of a phone’s busy …

It has been a while since CertMag has given an exhaustive list of study materials for the CompTIA A+ exam (since 220-602 in 2009 by my count). I figured it was about time to do some research and provide a complete list of the materials you need to pass the current …